The Save Mart Companies has begun a major modernization and expansion project at its Oakdale store. This is the third location under the Save Mart banner incorporating the brand's fresh, updated look and the new features geared toward convenience and service.

The Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) is hosting a Technology Night for Parents: Digital Citizenship on Tuesday, Aug. 23. The event is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at SCOE's Petersen Event Center at 720 12th St., Modesto. The free hour-long session, offered concurrently in both English and Spanish, is the first in a series of technology sessions geared toward parents. Walk-ins are welcome but registration is encouraged online at www.stancoe.org.

Oakdale's downtown weekly Farmer's Market, each Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on North Third Avenue, offers plenty of fun, farm fresh produce, entertainment and more. With a handful of weeks remaining, now is the time to take advantage of the outdoor market. Members of the Singles Skirts 'n Flirts square dance club entertained at the Aug. 10 market while, at side, Glen Earl of Cap 'n Coops Kettle Corn takes a moment to greet Andy, the St. Bernard and, below, Jana Ciccarelli of the Oakdale Library gets animated during a story time session. Fruits ...

Over the last few years, Oakdale residents have seen their elected city officials set service rates, determine the fate of city property sales, decide on growth developments, and propose sales tax initiatives. Some of those times saw individuals in the community up in arms over those decisions, criticizing leaders for the actions that shaped the city.

With a different judge on the bench, attorneys for the Oakdale Irrigation District on Tuesday, Aug. 9, attempted to dismiss a lawsuit regarding their water conservation program and the need for its environmental study.

With the city's South Yosemite Park project site prepped and the surrounding street construction in the finishing stages, the Oakdale City Council moved forward at its Aug. 15 meeting with a contract for a company to complete the park creation that began with the pedestrian improvement project around the park site.

On Wednesday, Aug. 10 Oakdale Joint Unified officially began the 2016-17 school year. As school bells began ringing at 7:40 a.m. at Oakdale High and East Stanislaus, one without school aged children may have pondered where all the traffic had come from.

Annalise VanderVeen, Oakdale's Distinguished Young Woman, competed in the Distinguished Young Women of California Class of 2017 State Finals along with 27 other accomplished high school seniors in Bakersfield on July 22 and 23.